When building works need a permit in Portugal

Independent site: we are not a public authority, and this is not legal or tax advice.

New buildings, extensions and alterations need a licence or a prior communication to the council (RJUE, art. 4.º), but conservation work, minor works and some interior alterations are exempt (arts. 6.º and 6.º-A).

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Law

Regime Jurídico da Urbanização e Edificação (RJUE, Decreto-Lei n.º 555/99), as amended by Decreto-Lei n.º 108/2026

Articles

4.º, 6.º, 6.º-A and 80.º-A

Exempt works

Conservation works; interior alterations that change nothing outside and do not affect stability, or come with a stability project; rebuilding of buildings (art. 6.º, n.º 1)

Minor works

Outbuildings up to 2.2 metres high, or the ground-floor height of the main building, with an area up to 10 m² and not facing a public road; garden greenhouses under 3 metres high and up to 20 m²; boundary walls up to 1.8 metres (art. 6.º-A, n.º 1)

Notice

The council must be told at least five days before any works start, including exempt ones (art. 80.º-A, n.º 1)

Other rules

Exempt works must still follow planning and technical rules (art. 6.º, n.º 8)

Official text

pgdlisboa.pt/leis/lei_mostra_articulado.php?nid=625&tabel...

Sources

pgdlisboa.pt/leis/lei_mostra_articulado.php?nid=625&tabel...
pgdlisboa.pt/leis/lei_mostra_articulado.php?nid=625&tabel...
pgdlisboa.pt/leis/lei_mostra_articulado.php?nid=625&tabel...
pgdlisboa.pt/leis/lei_mostra_articulado.php?nid=4024&tabe...

Checked

2026-11-05